JONNIE MAE (checks the clock): Well, may’s well go on and start. Horace should know better than be late like this. (In a sunnier tone:) Reverend Barden. Will you do us the honor?

BARDEN: Why, of course, Sister Greene. Let us pray: Our Father, we come before you today as humble as we know how. You’ve brought us through another year, and we are thankful that you have allowed us to work and prosper and praise your holy . . . (Continues to pray.)

(Door is heard in the background. HORACE enters. There is an earring in his left ear.)

HORACE: Sorry I’m—

RACHEL: Ssssh!

(HORACE realizes BARDEN is praying and bows his head.)

BARDEN: . . . in that world that will have no end. We pray in Jesus’ name.

ALL: Amen.

HORACE (moving toward his place at table): I’m sorry I’m late.

JONNIE MAE (reaching for the plate of candied yams): You should be sorry. Your aunts work hard all day to produce this fine meal, and you ain’t got respect enough to show up on time.

HORACE (looking sheepishly toward his aunts): Sorry.

JONNIE MAE (to JIMMY): You gone carve the turkey, son? (To REBECCA:) You looking after that cake? It should be about ready, don’t you think? (To HORACE:) And where were you all—

(JONNIE MAE sees the earring in Horace’s ear and drops the spoon and a dish of corn onto her plate, causing everyone to flinch and look up.)

Good Lord, boy. What have you done?

(Everyone looks at HORACE, puzzled.)

HORACE: Ma’am? I—

JONNIE MAE: He has pierced his ear! Pierced his ear. Boy, have you lost your mind?

HORACE: I—

ZEKE: Well, I be dadgummed. You are crazy, aren’t you? What got into your head to do such a th—

RACHEL: Horace, how could you, you should know—

REBECCA: You ain’t got a lick of sense, have you?

LESTER: Well, I kind of like it, my—

RACHEL: Shut up, Lester.

JONNIE MAE: A pierced ear.

(BARDEN sits back and grins, shaking his head, amused. JIMMY seems bewildered by the reaction of the women.)

REBECCA: Why would you do such a fool thing?

(Everyone looks to HORACE for an answer; he unsuccessfully tries to suppress a smile.)

JONNIE MAE (gravely): Wipe that smirk off your face, young man. This is not a laughing matter. You may think it is, but I think it’s downright disgraceful.

RUTHESTER: Why, Horace?

LESTER: Well, if you asked me—

RUTHESTER: Nobody asked you, Lester.

HORACE: All the guys. That is . . . the group, the boys . . . I . . . we—

JONNIE MAE (to ZEKE): Uh-huh. You see, Zeke? You see? What did I tell you? Now it starts this way, but how will it end? (Stands.) No better sense than to go on and follow whatever them white fools do. You’d follow them to hell, wouldn’t you? I—

RUTHESTER (moving to comfort her): Mamma, it ain’t that bad. He just—